Water closet construction



Nov. 14, 1950 Filed Oc'h. 21, 1946 Fig/0 l. H. RUSSELL ET AL WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F ig.

INVENTORS ll? Vl/VG H. RUSSELL A T TORNE Y5 Nov. 14, 1950 R L ET AL 2,529,632

WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 6km E514: Swmv a g; g

ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1950 1. H. RUSSELL ET AL WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 21, 1946 INVENTORS lRV/NG H. RUSSELL AND JAMES A. SLOAN ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION Application October 21, 1946, Serial No. 704,558

Claims.

This invention relates in general to water closet constructions and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this type including a water closet bowl, a flush valve for flushin the closet bowl, and a housing arranged to conceal the flush valve.

An important object of the invention is to provide a new and improved housing for a flush valve on a water closet bowl in which the housing is removably supported on the flush valve in such a manner as to be centrally located on the water closet bowl irrespective of variations in the position of the flush valve with relation to the water closet bowl.

The invention has as a further object the provision of a housing attached to a water closet flush valve in which the housing is removably locked in position to prevent unauthorized removal.

A further object is to design a flush valve housing presenting a smooth hygienic exterior enclosing and concealing the flush valve as well as serving as a toilet article shelf in a bathroom.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement on Patent No. 2,257,135, issued September 30, 1941, to William E. Sloan.

Other objects of the invention not specifically enumerated will be apparent from the following description which together with the accompanying drawings illustrates sufficient details to enable the invention to be understood clearly.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the water closet combination;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a large scale cross-sectional side elevation of the housing and flush valve;

Fig. 4 is a front view along the line L- l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of the housing showing the housing supporting and locking means;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view along the line 7-? of Fig. 5;

Figs. 8 and 9 are side and front views of a modified form of the invention in which the housing is spaced from a wall surface; while Figs. 10 and 11 are side and front views of a further modification.

In order to appreciate the invention, it must be understood that when a plumber installs a water closet bowl and fittings there are a number of variable factors which he must contend with in performing what is known as the rough-' ing-in operations. For example, there may be considerable variation from the correct position in the location of the diiierent elements of the water closet combination with relation to one another. These problems of installing a water closet combination are clearly pointed out and described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,257,135,

and a further detailed description therefore need not be pointed out here.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the water closet bowl i is installed directly over a waste pipe 2, which is located by the plumber at what he determines is the approximate position that the bowl is to be installed, keeping in mind other considerations such as the dimensions of the floor and wall surfaces after they are finished and the approximate position of the bowl from the Wall 3. Other variable factors to be contended with are the location of the inlet watersup-ply pipe 4 with respect to the flush valve, and the connection between the flush valve and the bowl. The approximate location of the flush valve with respect to the bowl must also be roughly gauged. In accordance with the invention, a novel housing construction generally indicated at 5 is arranged to be positioned against the wall surface 3 and above the rear of the closet bowl l to conceal and protect the flush valve and other mechanism in sucha manner that any number of variables in the posi tion of the different elements will be concealed regardless of the fact that they may or may not be centrally located with respect to the closet bowl i. The water closet bowl is provided with the usual seat and lid t, which lid may be lifted up when the water closet is in use and is adapted to be pushed back to actuate the flush valve mechanism through the medium of the operating member 1 carried on the housing. As shown in Fig. 2, the housing 5 and the flush valve operating member l are situated above the water closet bowl I in the approximate center line 8 passing through the water closet bowl I, in order that a symmetrical and pleasing appearance may be presented. The housing 5 rests at its lower end on top of a rearwardly extending portion 9 formed in the bowl 5.

Referring more particularly now to Figs. 3 and- 4, the exact details of construction and operation of the flush valve ll! are described in detail in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,257,135, and need not now be repeated since they form no part of the present invention. The flush valve ID is rigidly mounted in position against the wall surface 3 by means of a pair of screws II passing through slotted openings of a mounting bracket I 2, which is suitably secured to the rear of the flush valve I0. Flush valve ID is provided with the outlet discharge tube I3 extending to the spud connection on the rear ledge 9 of the water closet bowl I in the usual manner. A throttle or stop I4 is connected with the inlet water supply pipe 4 to regulate the water input and has its outlet connected to the inlet of the flush valve II] by means of a telescoping connection I4, there being universal ball joints at each end of the pipe I5, connected to the flush valve and to the throttle I4.

The housing 5 is provided with depending side portions I5 and I6, as seen in Fig. 4, embracing opposite sides of the bowl ledge 9, while the lower edge surface I! of the housing rests on top of this ledge 9. These side portions I5 and I6 center the housing on the bowl ledge and prevent lateral displacement of the housing. The front face of the housing has an opening therein through which the operating member I extends in a position where it is adapted to contact the valve actuating member I8 on the flush valve I when the lid 6 is pushed against the member I, in the position shown in Fig. 3.

The housing may be made of any suitable material such as metal or molded plastic and is of a hollow trapezoidal shape having generally converging sides, a sloping front surface, a flat rear edge adapted to engage the wall surface 3 together with a top flat surface I9 suitable for use as a toilet shelf, if desired. The housing 5 completely encloses the flush valve I8, except at its bottom end at the rear of the bowl ledge 9 where access may be had to the throttle I4 for manual adjustment of the same.

As pointed out in the aforesaid Sloan patent, a number of variable factors in the positioning of the apparatus must be compensated for by the plumber. Among these are the location of the bowl I and the waste pipe 2 with respect to the wall 3; the mounting of the flush valve I0 against the wall 3 by mounting screws II, which can be made only approximately in line with the center line 8 of the water closet bowl; the length of the discharge pipe I3 which is compensated for by sawing off a piece of the pipe entering the spud connection; the position of the inlet supply pipe 4 with respect to the throttle I4 and inlet of the flush valve I0, which is compensated for by the telescoping feature of the pipe I4, and the ball joints on either end of this pipe After all the foregoing connections have been made, the housing 5 is adapted to be placed in position to enclose the flush valve and associated elements in such a manner as to completely conceal them and to be fastened to the flush valve directly on top of the bowl ledge 9 regardless of the variations in the position of the flush valve with relation to the center line 8 of the closet bowl. The depending portions I5 and I6 of the housin 5 prevent lateral displacement of the housing 5 with relation to the bowl ledge and the front bottom edge I! protrudes sufficiently outward from the wall surface 3 to compensate for variable distances of the position of the bowl I with respect to the wall 3, this overlapping being predicated upon the horizontal length of the discharge tube I3 extending to the spud connection of the bowl and the location of the Waste pipe 2.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 5, this shows be loose and caused to rattle.

from wabbling on the studs 2|.

in detail the means for fastenin the housing 5 directly to the flush valve I0, and includes a generally flat plate or bracket 20, slidably attached to the rearward side of the housing 5 by means of a pair of headed studs 2I engaging the slots 22 in bracket 20, the construction being such that the bracket 20 has limited lateral sliding movement with relation to the studs 2|. The studs 2| are firmly threaded into and held in position on the housing 5 by the protruding bosses 23, as seen best in Fig. 7, so that the bracket 20 is spaced a slight distance from the rear of the housing 5. The bosses 23 are provided with vertical projections to hold the bracket 20 flat and prevent it At the top end of bracket 20 there is formed a portion 24 at right angles to the surface of the bracket which is adapted to engage and hold an extension 25 of the operating member I, for the purpose of holding the member 7 in position on the rear side of the housing 5. A protruding part of the member I extends through an opening in the housing through the front side thereof in the position shown in Fig. 3, so it can be operated by the toilet seat lid 6.

The housing 5 is removably positioned and directly fastened to the flush valve ID by cooperating means including a slot 26 centrally located in the bracket 20, having a flared opening 2! arranged at the entrance of the slot 26. The slot 26 is adapted to slidably engage an adjustable mounting screw 29, threaded into a projection formed on the body of flush valve In. The adjusting screw 29 is threaded inward a certain amount and then locked by the locking nut 30, the correct adjustment being such that the rear edge of housing 5 will just contact the wall surface 3 as the slot 26 engages the head of adjusting screw 29 as the housing is slid downwardly over the flush valve and contacts the ledge 9 of the bowl with the lower edge ll of the housing. This variable adjustment therefore provides another compensating feature for correctin inaccuracies in the location of the flush valve I 0 with respect to the wall 3 and the bowl I. The bracket 20 and the housing 5 have a slight amount of resiliency inherent therein so that a fairly tight connection of the bracket with the adjusting screw 29 is assured and so the housing will not Referring again specifically to Fig. 5, it will be seen that as the housing is slid into position over the flush valve I0, and on the bowl ledge 9, the adjusting screw 29 engages the flared openings 21 of slot 25, and regardless of the lateral position of the flush valve with respect to the center line 8 of the bowl I, the bracket 20 is automatically slid or shifted laterally to the left or right position with respect to the housing 5. This action is accomplished by the studs 2| in slots 22 slidably guiding the bracket I0 as it is shifted. The bracket 20 therefore automatically adjusts itself as the housing is placed in position, for any variation in the position of the flush valve with respect to the closet bowl I, so that the housing 5 will always be positioned directly on the center line 8 with respect to the bowl I. The depending portions I5 and I6 overlap the bowl ledge 9 and prevent lateral displacement of the housing when it is placed in the correct position.

The bracket 20 while being shiftable laterally a certain amount, will still maintain its turned up portion 24 in contact with the extension 25 of the operating member 1. Also this operating member is of sufficien-t width that slight lateral displacement of the hush valve and its actuating member 18 will not put it out of path of engagement with the rear side of the operating member I.

It will be seen that with the foregoing construction the housing automatically adjusts itself and compensates for any slight errors of the plumber in locating the suppl and waste pipes and the flush valve so that the assembly can be made rigid without throwing the finished fixtures out of alignment. Furthermore, the housing is of such shape and contour as to harmonize pleasingly with the water closet bowl and because of its smooth exterior surface is readily maintained in a clean and hygienic state. The housing provides an effective enclosure for protecting and concealing the flush valve and other appurtenances and is at all time in perfect alignment with the center line of the water closet combination. It will be noted that when the housing is in position with its back edges against thewall and its bottom edge resting on the bowl ledge, the throttle stop 84 is readily accessible for adjustment and manipulation by a person reaching down behind the bowl ledge and grasping the adjusting handle on the throttle stop. Because the slight springing action of the bracket 20 in its engagement with the adjusting screw 29 permits a tight fit of the housing against the wall, the housing is not readily displaced or accidentally moved upward out of engagement with the adjusting screw 29, gravitational force assisting in holding the housing downward in position on the flush valve and bowl ledge. The housing provides an additional advantage in that by completely enclosing the top, sides and front of the flush valve and other appurtenances, the formation of condensation on the outside surfaces is prevented because this enclosure is only open at the bottom and no complete circulation or movement of air through the housing and over the relatively cold flush valve can take place. Therefore, the housing will not accumulate moisture and keep dripping on the bathroom floor, a customary objection of the tank type of water closet construction.

While the housing may be readily slipped into position over the flush valve on the water closet bowl and just as easily removed when desired, there are certain instances Where it may be de sirable that such action not take place, for example in public toilet rooms or where children may have access to the water closet combination and ma tamper with the housing and adjustment of the flush valve or throttle M. In such installations, it is desirable to lock the housing in position and the invention contemplates such an arrangement.

Referring to Figs. and '7, an L-shaped looking lever arm 3i is provided, being pivoted near its midpoint by a rivet 32 attached to the bracket 20 and arranged in Such a manner that a downwardly extending lever arm 33 may be accessible for manual manipulation. Normally due to the weight and length of lever 33 the locking device is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 5,

with a stop pin 3 preventing rotation of the lever in a counterclockwise direction. As the housing is slid in place over the flush valve and the adjusting screw 29 passes into slot 26, the screw 29 has a passing contact with the end 3! of the looking lever tilting the lever, and when the adjustmg screw 29 is in the position as shown in Fig. 5,

age or mal-adjustment of the flush valve is thereby prevented.

In order to remove the locking control from the housing, those persons who are cognizant of the manner of unlocking the device, which would ordinarily be a plumber or maintenance man, would reach underneath the open end of the housing 5 behind the water closet bowl, grasp and rotate the depending lever 33 in a clockwise.

direction (as viewed in Fig. 5) to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. The end 3i of the locking lever is thereby rotated out of the path of the adjusting screw 29 sufficientlyf far so that the housing can be raised and ad-' justing screw 29' passed freely out of slot 26 and the housing be removed.

The lockin action is entirely automatic, taking place at the same time that the housing is slid into position over the valve and no other action is required to lock the housing in place.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 8 and 9,

there is shown a side and front View of a modification of the housing structure, as indicated at 35, to provide an arrangement in which the valve and housing under certain circumstances are spaced away from the wall surface 3, as well as the bowl, and the bowl is equipped with a top spud connection. In this arrangement, the rear ledge of the water closet bowl is provided with the top spud connection extending to the dis charge outlet of the flush valve 31, and which flush valve is fastened by studs 38 and screws directly to the wall surface 3 and thereby rigidly held in position. The housing is held in position on the bowl ledge and over the flush valve 31 by means of a threaded screw 39 passing through the fiat top surface of the housing 35 and entering the top of the flush valve 31 as shown. Thehousing is thereby directly clamped on the bowl ledge and held in position on the flush valve, away ton 4! on one end fulcrurned near its mid-pointin the usual handle opening position 42 of the flush valve. At its lower end, the operating lever is pivoted to a bracket 43 clamped to the discharge pipe of the flush valve.

When this flush valve is to be operated, the

operating member I is pressed inward by the seat cover 6 contacting the adjustable button 4|, so that the flush valve actuating member 42 is pressed inward to operate the flush valve. It is desirable in such an arrangement that the rear surface of the housing 35 be provided with a partial enclosure as indicated at 44 to provide further protection for the flush valve. The housing 35 is also provided with projecting portions 45 extending from the inside surface of the housing and adapted to rest on top of the rear bowl ledge 36, as shown in Fig. 9. Depending portions.

46 help to enclose the rear portion of the water closet bowl ledge. The foregoing type of housing 35 is adaptable for situations in which an existing valve has already been installed on the top spud of a water closet bowl and the valve can be readily modified by the removal of the usual manually operated handle and the addition of the operating lever 40, so that it can be operated through the operatin member 1.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 10 and 11, this shows a somewhat similar construction of a housing 4'! partially enclosed at 48 for a top spud bowl spaced from the wall surface 3. In this construction, the top spud bowl is provided with a ledge 49 having openings therein through which the bolts 50 are adapted to pass. These bolts hold the housing 41 in place by means of the extensions formed in opposite sides of the housing. The depending portions 52 of the housing serve to conceal the lower portion of the bowl ledge. Since the housing 4'! is bolted directly to the bowl ledge 49, it is desirable that some means be provided to permit access to the flush valve 55 for adjustment purposes. This is provided by forming thetop of the housing 41 so that a cover 53 can be placed directly over the opening of the housing and held in position preferably by one or more screws, such as 54. The cover 53 conveniently provides a shelf for toilet articles, if desired.

While several modifications of the invention have been disclosed and described, it is clear that the broad general principles are applicable to other variations, and it is therefore to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise forms illustrated but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a water closet combination, a water closet bowl, a flush valve for flushing the water closet bowl, together with a housing for concealing the flush valve, and means for fastening said housing directly to said flush valve, said fastening means comprising a bracket on said housing and an engagin member on said flush valve, said bracket having a vertical slot therein adapted to slidably engage said engaging member as the housing is placed over the flush valve, bracket supporting studs on said housing, said bracket having horizontal slots therein engaging said supporting studs whereby said bracket is free to shift horizontally as it is slid onto the flush valve to compensate for variations in the position of said flush valve with respect to said water closet bowl.

2. In a water closet combination, a water closet bowl having a flush valve thereon and a housing concealing the flush valve, means for removably supporting said housing on said flush valve comprising a bracket on said housing and a member on said flush valve slidably engageable by said bracket as said housing is placed in position on said flush valve, and means for automatically looking said housing on said flush valve as said housing is placed in position, said locking means comprising a lever pivoted to said bracket and having a long leg and a short leg, said long leg'manually accessible for unlocking said lever, said short leg having passin contact with said flush valve member as the housing is slid over said flush valve, and a stop on said bracket engageable by said short leg when an attempt is made to remove said housing without first pivoting said lever.

3. In a water closet combination, a water closet bowl having a flush valve thereon and a housing for concealing said flush valve, means for removably supporting said housing on said flush valve comprising a bracket on said housin having a slot therein, an adjustable stud on said flush valve slidably engaged by said bracket slot as said housing is placed in position on said flush valve, and means for automatically locking said housing on said flush valve as it is placed in position thereon, said locking means comprising a locking lever on said bracket having passing engagement with said adjustable stud as the housing i placed in position, said locking lever being engageable with said adjustable stud when an attempt is made to remove the housing from said flush valve, and an extension on said locking lever manually accessible from outside said housing to unlock said locking means.

4. In a water closet combination, a water closet bowl having a flush valve for flushin the same and a housing for concealing the flush valve, means for removably supporting said housing on said flush valve comprising a bracket on said housin having a vertical slot therein slidably engaging a stud on said flush valve as the housing is placed in position on said flush valve, means for loosely supporting said bracket on said housing comprising horizontal slots in said bracket slidably engaging studs on said housing, whereby said bracket is shiftable horizontally as said housing is placed in position on said flush valve and any slight variations in the fixed location of said flush valve with respect to said closet bowl is automatically compensated for, said housing having a bottom edge resting on said closet bowl together with dependin side positions overlapping the.

sides of said closet bowl whereby the housing is centered on said closet bowl and lateral displacement thereof is prevented.

5. In a water closet combination, a water closet bowl having a flush valve for flushing the same and a housing for concealing the flush valve. means for removably supporting said housing on said flush valve arranged to automatically compensate for any slight variations in the fixed location of said flush valve with respect to said closet bowl as said housing is placed in position on said water closet, said means including a bracket having horizontal slots therein slidably engaging studs on said housing, together with a vertical slot in said bracket slidably engaging a stud on said flush valve, and said housing having a bottom edge resting on said closet bowl and depending side portions on said housing overlapping the sides of said closet bowl.

IRVING H. RUSSELL. JAMES A. SLOAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 691,768 Hinsdale Jan. 28, 1902 2,126,448 Campus Aug. 9, 1938 2,257,134 Sloan Sept. 30, 1941 2,257,135 Sloan Sept. 30, 1941 

